Strange Adventures #2 Review
Writer – Tom King
Art – Mitch Gerads, Evan “Doc” Shaner
Letters – Clayton Cowles
Publisher – DC Comics Black Label
It’s finally back. After what feels like forever, the second issue of Strange Asventures is finally out on store shelves and man am I glad it is. After a very successful release of issue #1 fans around the world were blowing up social media about how incredible the first issue was and how excited we were to continue the story. Well shortly after that everything changed and we were without new comics for a few months due to the current COVID 19 outbreak and we were left to follow the antics of the creative team on social media with Gerads teasing the second issue and offering to sell a comp issue for $12,000 as a joke. Well maybe it was a joke. Anyway, after what feels like forever, Strange Adventures has returned in full force.
I’ve read a few different Adam Strange stories and while fun and campy are times, none of them have lived up to the deep and emotional tale that is being spun by writer Tom King. King is known for taking some of the most well known characters in the DC Universe and really peeling back the hero aspect and showing is a more human side of these characters. King has really topped all his previous stories with this one though, giving is a whole new perspective of a character who isn’t as big as some of the other characters he has written and it’s almost like a blank canvas with the characters of this story. Readers are able to really relate and feel for this character and King keeps us on our toes as we explore the depths of him as time goes on. King also continues to entertain readers dropping plenty of Easter eggs and fun little things that long time DC readers will be able to spot and recognize which makes this story that much more enjoyable. This second issue does a fantastic job of keeping readers hooked and wanting to know more as more and more is revealed. I’ve reviewed a lot of stories by Tom King and I can honestly say this is one of the most enjoyable of all of them and I can not wait to continue to read and review this title.
The art of this story is nothing short of the excellence of the writing and is what I feel really is the icing on the cake. Either of these artists on their own could have been a fantastic choice but when you bring in two of the best visual story tellers in the business and put them on a deep and emotional story you wouldn’t be able to accept anything less then the works we have seen in the first two issues. With incredible character designs as well as beautiful panel work and some of the most visually stunning splash pages and backgrounds, Gerads and Shaner have really just outdone themselves and with the second issue they have taken there work to the next level. One of my favorite aspects of the art in this issue is that the team is able to illustrate characters that feel as if they belong in an animated series but also add so much life like detail to the characters. It’s a lot of fun to read a comic and see the creative team illustrated in the same book that they work on. The colors of this series are also one of the things that I feel help set this book apart from others. They are all sharp and vivid and really help sell the emotions of every panel relating to the script. We also see some incredible deep and detailed work that just really look out of this world. (See what I did there?) The letters of the issue are all very clean and clear and are easily read throughout the issue with no hesitations. There are a lot of beautiful books out there right now but most don’t hold up as well as Strange Adventures. Not only do we get a deep story but we get art that brings it to life and is just overall a stunning piece of work.
After issue #1 was released, word spread very quick about how incredible it was and many people were on edge waiting for this second issue and we were not let down. This issue lived up to everything we would have wanted and even though we had to wait a little this issue was well worth the wait! Strange Adventures #2 is available right now so head to your local comic shop and pick it up or you can also read it via digital download. If you are one of the few who missed out on issue #1, be sure to pick it up today if you can and get into this story on the ground floor. Make sure you hit the comments section below and let me know your thoughts on the issue.
-Wes Greer
Art – Mitch Gerads, Evan “Doc” Shaner
Letters – Clayton Cowles
Publisher – DC Comics Black Label
It’s finally back. After what feels like forever, the second issue of Strange Asventures is finally out on store shelves and man am I glad it is. After a very successful release of issue #1 fans around the world were blowing up social media about how incredible the first issue was and how excited we were to continue the story. Well shortly after that everything changed and we were without new comics for a few months due to the current COVID 19 outbreak and we were left to follow the antics of the creative team on social media with Gerads teasing the second issue and offering to sell a comp issue for $12,000 as a joke. Well maybe it was a joke. Anyway, after what feels like forever, Strange Adventures has returned in full force.
I’ve read a few different Adam Strange stories and while fun and campy are times, none of them have lived up to the deep and emotional tale that is being spun by writer Tom King. King is known for taking some of the most well known characters in the DC Universe and really peeling back the hero aspect and showing is a more human side of these characters. King has really topped all his previous stories with this one though, giving is a whole new perspective of a character who isn’t as big as some of the other characters he has written and it’s almost like a blank canvas with the characters of this story. Readers are able to really relate and feel for this character and King keeps us on our toes as we explore the depths of him as time goes on. King also continues to entertain readers dropping plenty of Easter eggs and fun little things that long time DC readers will be able to spot and recognize which makes this story that much more enjoyable. This second issue does a fantastic job of keeping readers hooked and wanting to know more as more and more is revealed. I’ve reviewed a lot of stories by Tom King and I can honestly say this is one of the most enjoyable of all of them and I can not wait to continue to read and review this title.
The art of this story is nothing short of the excellence of the writing and is what I feel really is the icing on the cake. Either of these artists on their own could have been a fantastic choice but when you bring in two of the best visual story tellers in the business and put them on a deep and emotional story you wouldn’t be able to accept anything less then the works we have seen in the first two issues. With incredible character designs as well as beautiful panel work and some of the most visually stunning splash pages and backgrounds, Gerads and Shaner have really just outdone themselves and with the second issue they have taken there work to the next level. One of my favorite aspects of the art in this issue is that the team is able to illustrate characters that feel as if they belong in an animated series but also add so much life like detail to the characters. It’s a lot of fun to read a comic and see the creative team illustrated in the same book that they work on. The colors of this series are also one of the things that I feel help set this book apart from others. They are all sharp and vivid and really help sell the emotions of every panel relating to the script. We also see some incredible deep and detailed work that just really look out of this world. (See what I did there?) The letters of the issue are all very clean and clear and are easily read throughout the issue with no hesitations. There are a lot of beautiful books out there right now but most don’t hold up as well as Strange Adventures. Not only do we get a deep story but we get art that brings it to life and is just overall a stunning piece of work.
After issue #1 was released, word spread very quick about how incredible it was and many people were on edge waiting for this second issue and we were not let down. This issue lived up to everything we would have wanted and even though we had to wait a little this issue was well worth the wait! Strange Adventures #2 is available right now so head to your local comic shop and pick it up or you can also read it via digital download. If you are one of the few who missed out on issue #1, be sure to pick it up today if you can and get into this story on the ground floor. Make sure you hit the comments section below and let me know your thoughts on the issue.
-Wes Greer
A Look Inside
